Golf putter sighting attachment



Sept. 20, 1966 R. E. NOLTING GOLF PUTTER SIGHTING ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 6, 1964 HTTOZNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,273,8h2 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 3,273,892 GOLF PUTTER SIGHTEING ATTACHMENT Ray E. Nolting, Rte. 3, Box 4%, (Ihestertield, Mo. Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 335,827 ll Claim. (Cl. 273-163) The present invention relates generally to the sport of golf, and more particularly to a novel device adapted to assist one in putting on a predetermined line.

It is well known that accurate putting is essential in low scoring in golf. In determining the par figures for any eighteen hole golf course, thirty-six putts are included. For the standard course, par is seventy-two, hence, the putting score is one-half thereof. The percentage increases with shorter courses; very few courses have a par greater than seventy-two. It is manifest that to achieve sub-par scores, a player must be sharp in his putting. Various items have been devised to improve putting, but to the applicants knowledge, none have been successful. The long existing need persists.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a putting aid which fulfills the long existing need pointed out above.

In brief, the present invention comprises a guide attachable to a putter which assists in lining up a putt. A pointer is provided which is disposed at right angles to the blade of the putter, being attached to the shaft, preferably rernovably. The pointer is adjustable and may be formed for folding into position for placing the club in a bag.

Hence, another object is to provide a novel putting aid for mounting on a putter which is used in lining up the putt.

Another object is to provide a novel putting aid for mounting on a putter which can be readily attached to and removed therefrom.

Another object is to provide a novel putting aid for mounting on a putter which includes a pointer for disposition at right angles to the blade of a putter of sufiicient length to help in aligning the ball with the cup.

Another object is to provide a novel putting aid for mounting on a putter, which can be readily manipulated into inoperative relation for bag storage of the putter.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of a putting aid or guide constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrated as attached to the shaft of a putter, the upper part of the shaft being broken away for conservation of space;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a split resilient mounting sleeve; and

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of a modified pointer.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20 indicates generally a putting aid or guide incorporating the teachings of the present invention, shown removably mounted on the lower part of the shaft 22 of a putter 24. The putter 24 has a blade 26.

The putting aid 20 includes a two-piece sleeve type mounting bracket 28 which is removably secured on the shaft 22 by wing nuts 30, a resilient split sleeve 32 being used to protect the shaft 22 and to insure firm mounting. A link 34 is pivotally suspended from the bracket 28 by a wing nut 36. The lower end of the link is formed as a center tongue portion 38 having an arcuate lower end 40, and identical side portions 44 extending forwardly at an angle to the center tongue portion 38 having opposed trunnion portions 46. A pointer 48 of conical form having diametrically opposed indentations 49 is suspended on the trunnion portions 4-6. The side portions 44 are cut away so the pointer 43 can be swung into vertical position against the link 34 for storage. It is to be understood that the weight of the forward portion of the pointer 48 will keep it in horizontal use position, and that, in addition, there is friction between the trunnions 4-6 and the indentations 49.

The pointer 48 is shown in FIGURES 1-3 adjusted to a position at right angles with the blade 26. It is clear that a user can readily better align the ball with the cup, or a point above or below the cup, by use of the pointer 48 over simply trying to align the face of the putter blade 265. The aid Ztl does not interfere with the putting.

In FIGURE 5 is shown a modified pointer 50 which includes telescoping segments constructed in the well known manner.

It is manifest that there has been provided a putting aid which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the acrompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a putting aid for attachment to a putter comprising a bracket including means for gripping a putter shaft, a pointer, and linkage depending from said bracket, said pointer being pivotally suspended from the lower end of said linkage, said linkage having attached to its lower end means supporting opposed trunnions, said trunnions being spaced from the linkage, said pointer including means pivotally receiving said trunnions, said trunnions and linkage being formed to permit said pointer to pivot from horizontal use position to vertical inoperative position, said pointer having a portion which extends rearwardly of the trunnions and is adapted to bear against the linkage when such pointer is in its horizontal use position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,384 2/1916 Rees 273-163 3,198,525 8/1965 Smith 273-194 X FOREIGN PATENTS 25,146 1904 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. G. I. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

